SearchWide Global Recruits CEO for Finger Lakes Visitors Connection
June 16, 2025 – Executive recruitment firm SearchWide Global has assisted in the recruitment of Alicia M. Quinn as president and CEO of Finger Lakes Visitors Connection (FLVC). She will succeed Valerie Knoblauch, who is retiring after 40 years of leadership and service to the region. Nicole Newman, global head of destinations, led the assignment. “We are thrilled to welcome Alicia Quinn to Finger Lakes Visitors Connection and Ontario County,” said FLVC board chair, David Hutchings. “Alicia has an impressive background in destination marketing in regions similar to ours. Her industry expertise will help elevate the Finger Lakes experience as we continue to share our story and the beauty of our destination to attract new visitors and drive economic growth in our community.”
Ms. Quinn comes to FLVC from her most recent role as the first deputy executive director of the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism. In this position, she led efforts to re-strategize and re-envision New Jersey’s story and voice—both domestically and globally—crafting a unified brand and message that elevated the Garden State’s diverse tourism assets, including an emphasis on agritourism, history, and recreation.
Ms. Quinn previously worked as vice president of marketing & strategic alliances for Discover Lehigh Valley, where she led the advertising and media efforts to build the region through destination marketing. Prior to joining Lehigh Valley, she served as project director for Visit Philadelphia, delivering effective visitor experiences that resulted in increased economic development for the five-county Greater Philadelphia area. Ms. Quinn also served as director of marketing during the opening of Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in the Pocono Mountains, and as director of public relations & communications for the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau, where she led a rebranding initiative to better reflect the destination’s identity.
“The Finger Lakes, and particularly Ontario County, is a world-class destination, and I am honored and excited to have been selected as the next president and CEO,” said Ms. Quinn. “I want to thank Valerie for her 40 years of service and leadership as a strong tourism region is vital to the local economy. I look forward to joining the team at the Finger Lakes Visitors Connection and working across the industry to propel us forward. Together with the team and area partners, we will work to drive sustainable tourism, foster economic growth and continue showcasing the unique charm of this remarkable region.”
Finger Lakes Visitors Connection is the official tourism promotion agency for Ontario County. Organized in 1984, the mission of this 501(c)(3) is to stimulate economic growth through both leisure and meeting travel and increase the number of overnight stays across the county.
SearchWide Global, based in St. Paul, MN, is a full-service executive recruitment firm primarily for companies in the travel, tourism, hospitality, convention, trade association, venue management, and experiential marketing industries. The firm specializes in C-level and director-level executive searches for companies ranging in size from Fortune 500 corporations to mid-sized public and private companies and associations.
Related: SearchWide Global Assists Big Sky Chamber of Commerce and Visit Big Sky in CEO Search
Ms. Newman works in all sectors of the hospitality and travel industry. Her experience in group sales, catering, and event planning, according to clients, gives her a unique perspective on executive level recruitment.
Visit Greensboro Search
SearchWide Global was also recently selected by Visit Greensboro to find a new president and CEO. Andrea Christopherson, global head of experiential, tradeshows, events and venues, is leading the assignment. The firm is seeking an energetic, open, team-oriented leader. The Greensboro Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is an independent, non-profit governmental authority whose mission is to aggressively market Greensboro’s assets, maximizing economic impact while providing excellent visitor service.
The president and CEO serves as the chief executive for the Greensboro Area Convention & Visitors Bureau and reports to the board of directors. The role requires a highly experienced sales and marketing strategist with strong leadership ability, management skills, and business acumen. The CEO holds responsibility for overall organizational leadership and implementation of the board’s long-term strategic direction. This includes establishing the organizational structure and building high-performing teams aligned with the mission.
Ms. Christopherson specializes in executive search for C-level and director level professionals as well as business development in the experiential event marketing segment along with the tradeshow and convention industries. Her previous experience at a SaaS company focused on leadership development, her experience in hospitality, and her skills in business strategy, organizational effectiveness, change management, and talent acquisition bring a unique perspective to executive search and organizational strategy.
Related: SearchWide Global Recruits CEO for the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
